kitchen tools

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Why I Love Nut Milk Bags (For More Than Just Straining Nut Milks!)

Tim Dempsey

Welcome to One Simply Terrific Thing, our ongoing series highlighting the small tools and kitchen goods that make life better!

The nut milk bag’s terribly-specific name screams unitasker! but it’s actually an incredibly useful tool that can replace many single-use or clumsy, large items in your kitchen and/or home bar.

In terms of practical value, it’s right up there with a reliable cocktail shaker.

The nut milk bag is made of fine, breathable mesh. Because of the airflow, you can use it as a container for drying herbs or edible flowers. It can also replace cheesecloth, fine strainers, coffee filters, and any of the other unwieldy gear you reach for when you need to separate solids from liquid. (And oh yeah, and it strains nut milks, too.)

These bags come in various sizes, but this wide 12-inch size is the best overall. It can hold quite a lot (I used mine recently to strain chicken stock scraps), but also doesn’t seem excessive for straining smaller items like a batch of fresh ricotta cheese. The wide opening also ensures that you can fold it over a bowl or a measuring glass.

I’ve had my current nut milk bag for around four years now and only just recently needed to grab an extra one, since quarantine life had me straining cold brew coffee and homemade cheese concurrently. Not only is this a versatile kitchen tool, but if you’re also a home bar enthusiast (like me!), then this also comes in handy for infusing liquors or straining that batch of homemade orgeat.

The best part of owning one is saying goodbye to so many single use items, and those annoying threads from cheesecloth. And when you’re done with it, it folds up teeny tiny into your drawer until next time.

Continue reading “Why I Love Nut Milk Bags (For More Than Just Straining Nut Milks!)” »

12 Essential Tools That We Can’t Live Without

Tim Dempsey

Essential Tools

Did you know that every single recipe on Simply Recipes goes through a rigorous process of development, testing, and editing before it gets shared on the site? It’s true! We want to make sure you’re only getting the very best when it comes to your meals and desserts.

Given the fact that our team of contributors and testers spend so much time in the kitchen day in and day out, it’s no wonder that we’ve developed some preferences when it comes to our essential, most time-saving kitchen tools.

Want to hear what they are?!

Continue reading “12 Essential Tools That We Can’t Live Without” »

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This butcher's twine dispenser helps keep things in place

Tim Dempsey

This stand stops my spool of kitchen twine from rolling off the counter.

Years ago I bought a loose spool of kitchen twine. My cat constantly knocks it off the counter. I finally finished that spool, and replaced it with this spool on a stand!

Seriously a spool of thread lasts so long that I want a stand for it. I like to keep it on the counter, and not in a drawer. I do not like it on the floor. I don’t like it rolling around.

Thoughtfully, this stand even has a string cutter on top!

Regency Cooking Butcher’s Twine on Handy Dispenser with Cutter for Meat Prep and Trussing Turkey via Amazon

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My favorite garlic crusher

Tim Dempsey

I use this rocker garlic crusher several times a week. To use it, you just put a peeled clove of garlic under the crusher and rock the crusher over it a few times. It will smash the garlic through the holes, which you can then add to your food or skillet. When you are done, you can rub the stainless steel rocker underwater and “wash” your hands to remove the garlic smell from your skin. I like using this a lot more than a traditional garlic press, which seems to “juice” garlic more than mince it, as this rocker does. It’s $15 on Amazon and will last forever. Here’s a cheaper version (which I have not tried):

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